Job Readiness

Important Employment Related Vocabulary Words

An easy way to be better prepared for a job is to understand many of the common words people use when discussing jobs. Below are some words that you may come across when searching for a job, interviewing, or on the job and examples of how they may be used.

Although the salary was less than I wanted, I took the job because it had excellent benefits.

Career

A profession for which one trains; a job or series of job that you do during your working life
He wants a career in social work.

Her career as a computer technician is very rewarding.

What are your career goals?

Classified Ads/Classified Section/Classifieds

Advertisements in a newspaper, magazine, or online, regarding job opportunities; the section of a newspaper, magazine or Web site devoted to advertisements about job opportunities

The job will be listed in this Sunday's Classified Section.

I saw your advertisement for an assistant in the classifieds.

Deductions

An amount of money taken from your paycheck every payday (usually for things such as federal and state income taxes, employment taxes, social security taxes, workers compensation coverage, and health insurance payments)

Her paycheck was $178 after deductions.

Experience

Knowledge or skill that one gets from doing, seeing or feeling something; the experience a person already has of working

Do you have any experience working in a restaurant or serving food?

I have experience working in an office, filing, typing, and answering phones.

Goal

Aim or purpose; the end toward which effort is directed

The department's goal is to provide better customer service.

My goal is to find a job where I can work with children.

Gross Wages

The total amount of your pay or wages before any deductions are taken out of your paycheck

Your gross wages are $200, but your net wages are $150.

Interest

The desire to learn about and/or be involved in a particular field or topic; activities that you enjoy doing or subjects that you like to learn about and spend time studying

She has always had an interest in healthcare.

His interests include politics, computers, and exercise.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

A department of the U.S. government that collects taxes

You must file your taxes with the IRS by April 15.

Job

Employment; the regular work a person does to earn money; a specific task or piece of work; a specific task or project that is one's responsibility

I am looking for a job as a teacher's aide. (employment)

We hope to have the job done by next week. (piece of work)

It will be your job to answer the phone and file papers. (responsibility)

Net Wages

The amount of pay or wages you take home after all your deductions are taken out of your paycheck

Your gross wages are $200, but your net wages are $150.

Network/Networking

Using friends, family, and people in organizations that you know to help you find a job

One of the most successful ways to find a job is through networking.

Occupation

A person's job

The application asks you to list your occupation.

He answered "teacher" when they asked his occupation.

Opportunity

The chance to do something you want to do, advance, or progress; the chance to get a job

I had the opportunity to learn computer skills at my last job. (chance)

Will there be the opportunity to advance in this job? (advance/progress)

There are many opportunities for people who have gone to technical school. (job)

Qualifications

An ability, characteristic or experience that makes you suitable for a particular job or activity

Nursing experience is a necessary qualification for this job.

Reference

A person who knows you and is willing to describe and usually praise you to support you when you are trying to get a job; a statement as to a person's character or ability

She used her computer teacher as a reference for the job.

Resume

A short written description of your education, qualifications, and previous employment, which you send to an employer when you are trying to get a job; also sometimes called a curriculum vitae or CV

People interested in applying for the job should send their resume by mail.

Skill

The ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it

Helping raise my younger brothers gave me great skills with children.

I learned my office skills while volunteering in the school office.

What skills does the job require?

Tax/Taxes

An amount of money that is paid to the government, which is based on your income

Every person in the United States is required to pay state, federal, and social security tax.

Value

How important or useful something is; "value" can be used to describe something's basic worth (how important or useful people find it) or monetary worth (how much something costs)